Rabbi Who Exposed Thomas Gets Death Threats

A New York rabbi who interviewed Helen Thomas, exposing her views on Israelis, has received hate mail and death threats.

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Maayana Miskin, 11/06/10 10:10 | updated: 10:32

Helen Thomas

Israel news photo: Flickr/Wikimedia Commons

Rabbi David Nesenoff's interview with Helen Thomas revealed the long-time journalist's hateful views on Israeli Jews, who she said should “go back to Poland.” Now, Nesenoff has become the target of anti-Jewish hate, and has received many death threats and thousands of pieces of hate mail.

Nesenoff told the American Fox News channel that he had received emails calling for a Holocaust, and threats against his family. “We've got one specific one saying, 'We're going to kill the Jews, watch your back,'” he said.

"[Thomas] is just a little cherry on top of this huge, huge sundae of hate in America,” he added.

The rabbi has decided to post the hate mail online, without censoring out vulgarities or threats.

Nesenoff briefly questioned Thomas on camera in late May, following a celebration of Jewish heritage at the White House. When he asked her about Israel, Thomas said Israeli Jews should “get the hell out of Palestine,” and “go home” to Poland and Germany.

Shortly after her comments reached the mainstream media, her employer, the Hearst Corporation, announced that the 89-year-old reporter would be retiring immediately.

Thomas' family and other supporters later claimed that she was referring only to Jews in Judea and Samaria. Her relatives said that Thomas had been on the receiving end of an outpouring of support since the incident. “She has so many bouquets of flowers they can't get into her condo,” a sister told journalist Richard Prince.